How to Replace a Tie Rod End in a 2000 Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima made its debut in 1976, as a high-end trim package of the Nissan Bluebird. In 1981 the Nissan Maxima became an individual car model. The 2000 Nissan Maxima featured a 3.0-liter, DOHC four-cylinder, which produced 222 horsepower. The car came available in SE, GLE and GXE models. Replacing the outer tie rods on the 2000 Maxima will improve the vehicle's toe alignment. Toe alignment is the turning inward or outward of the front and rear tread faces of the tires.

Instructions

1

Loosen the front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron, but do not remove them. Raise the front of the Maxima with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front frame rails, on both sides of the engine. Remove the lug nuts from the Maxima, then remove the front wheels.

2

Loosen the jam nut on the inboard end of the tie rod, using an open-end wrench. Insert a second open-end wrench on the inner tie rod end to hold it in place while you turn the jam nut. Do not let the inner tie end spin freely. Make a mark where the inner tie rod and outer tie rod connect, with a white paint marker or crayon.

3

Remove the cotter pin from the tie rod ball stud with pliers, where the ball stud is installed through the steering knuckle. Remove the castle nut from the stud with a ratchet and socket. Pry the outer tie rod ball stud upward out of the steering knuckle with a small pry bar. Tap the ball stud gently upward from the bottom, with a hammer if needed.

4

Insert the open-end wrench on the inner tie rod and hold it in place. Turn the outer tie rod counterclockwise and remove it from the car completely. Count the number of turns you make while removing the tie rod end, to assist you during the installation process of the new tie rod.

5

Install the new outer tie rod onto the inner tie rod, while still holding the inner tie rod from spinning freely. Turn the outer tie rods the same amount of turns you made while removing the old one. When you are finished, the new outer tie rod should line up with the white mark you made before removal. Make sure the outer tie rod ball stud is facing downward when you finish rotating the new tie rod.

6

Insert the tie rod ball stud downward through the steering knuckle mounting hole. Wiggle the steering knuckle assembly side to side to assist the ball stud through the knuckle. Install the castle nut onto the ball stud and tighten it to 29 foot-pounds, with a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and socket. Install a new cotter pin through the ball stud and bend it with pliers, to lock it onto the stud. Tighten the castle nut slightly if needed, to accommodate the cotter pin. Never loosen the nut. Do not exceed 36 foot-pounds if you have to further tighten the nut.

7

Tighten the jam nut against the inboard side of the new tie rod, with your wrench. Hold the inner tie rod still while tightening the jam nut.

8

Repeat steps 2 through 7 to complete the outer tie rod replacement on the other side of the Maxima. Install the front wheels and tighten the lug nuts snug, with the tire iron. Raise the car off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the car. Lower the Maxima to the ground, and tighten the lug nuts to 90 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.

9

Take the Maxima to a professional auto repair facility to have a laser-guided alignment performed. Laser-guided alignments are accurate within 0.01 degrees and are much safer than an alignment performed in a driveway.